Herald Angels
They sing and they trumpet too. But their message isn’t only glory to the new born king. It’s also to introduce the wildly popular and magical dancing light show dressing the massive facade of Sach’s Fifth Avenue. Prime viewing real estate is at a premium on a brisk December night but there are no bad seats for this show. Little is more fitting that the biggest attraction in New York at Christmastime, second only to the adjacent Rockefeller Center ice rink and tree, is a ballooning department store display. The twinkle-eyed gawkers are quite justified however in their loitering. Sach’s has managed to steal hoards of heads away from the inspiring yet rather static 65 foot Rockefeller Center Christmas spruce with its thoughtful and well-executed theater of music and simple white lights creating the perfect bookend for the Channel Gardens and Promenade and one of the greatest holiday destinations in the world. Of course this is America and the heart of America’s greatest city so it’s expected that there be a gratuitous private commercial representative to the holiday message. Intuitively crafted and expertly balanced.
Observing Those at Play
Under the watchful eyes of their guardians of masonry and steel the citizens of New York frolic and play in the overgrown sandbox of their overgrown community. Even winter’s dictatorial flannel looming close overhead can’t completely repress the will of youthful recreation. While the sprite and lively spiral and salchow the now quite matured observers look down on the ancient natural landscape almost like aging grandparents enjoying a bench at a playground. There’s much to love about central park even if it’s reputation among many, even its stuffy neighbors, is less than virtuous. For those who wouldn’t think of cutting it’s length even if to just pass through, nostalgic wintry scenes such as this are unfortunately missed.
Bryant Park Skate
It was my last day in New York and my only real free time. I was out the door of the Fitzpatrick by 7AM and didn’t need to check out until 11. By 9 my fingers were numb and the backs of my hands were starting to tingle. Luckily inspired by the slowly rising sun, I forged ahead, passing a cornucopia of cafes, bakeries and other inviting warming huts including the pseudo-famous Brasserie Les Halles which I stumbled on by complete chance. The sun takes an excruciatingly long time to emerge above the forest of steel, masonry and glass in New York and inversely the days are shorter as its low peak horizon may never clear the tallest buildings.
At modest and prized clearings like Bryant Park, reflex stretching of the neck and deep breaths are in order. And finally the tops of buildings and even micro skylines can once and for all be seen and appreciated. The ice rink was already vibrating with suffocated New Yorkers who come to unfold themselves from their daily sardine tin environments. On the loud speakers Sinatra, Deano, Bublé and other Christmas crooners provided the only appropriate New York soundtrack to the whole spectacle – one that screamed the holiday season with the most bold of New York accents.
This photo is an 3 exposure HDR panoramic with a total of 9 exposures. I particularly love the scope of this single photo (albeit a wide panoramic). Some of the greatest landmarks in New York and conversely some of the greatest symbols in the history of urbanization are represented. Front and center is the New York Public Library, from left to right, the GE Building at Rockefeller Center, the Chrysler Building spire peaking over closer buildings, the black Bryant Park Hotel and the Empire State Building.
Follow Me